Values/process

From EcoReality

As a record of sessions past, this page has been protected from further change. Please use the discussion tab to note inaccuracies or grammar/spelling problems. --Jan Steinman 16:25, 28 March 2006 (PST)

about permaculture design and alternative building styles and materials,

about sustainable organic horticulture/animal husbandry,

about arts/culture/spiritual practice.

Resource-sharing.

Having awareness and application as key foci rather than simply knowledge or training

choosing to stand for our values and to accept our humanity while working towards applying our education ongoingly

choosing together to be a community of lifelong learners who are committed to learning

not attached to being right or wrong.

Balancing Energies – supporting the ebb and flow of a group of people involves awareness of personal energetic balance and commitment to creating neutral space and healing space for each of us as persons, and as members of the group

Clear, written processes and agreements for managing our interactions among ourselves and those outside, supported by appropriate tools that everyone agrees to use. This may include establishing a canon of literature as a way of sharing vocabulary.

Sustainability is the number one goal, in all its forms: food, energy, economy, society, politics, more. In a word, Permaculture, using endogenous principles

Emphasis on empowering people, through personal responsibility and accountability, supported as needed by others. Avoid "pseudo-consensus" and "design by committee" by using consensus as a delegation and ratification strategy, keeping in mind that it will be individuals who get work done. Empowerment has a flip side, and members agree to be responsible to be where they say they'll be and do what they say they'll do.

Adherence to non-violence, in all its forms. This may include non-violence to non-human animals, as well as discouraging non-physical violence, such as passive-aggressive behavior in groups.

Honor and respect for diversity, in all its forms, subject to preceding principles. For example, respecting the diversity of someone who espoused violence would be be contrary to Adherence to non-violence, above.

Everything should be kept as simple as possible.Complexity always has a cost, and should be deferred until necessary. Complexity and energy are intimately related, and today's complex world is a direct result of unsustainable levels of energy. If unnecessary complexity is built into a system, it may require unsustainable amounts of energy -- physical, emotional, mental -- to support.

Radical transparency at the appropriate level keeps almost everything we do open to scrutiny. This not only means open books and meeting minutes, but also an open decision-making process, and openness about personal situations within the group, and willingness to proudly attach one's name with one's works.

Dedication to equality but respect for equity. People should be treated equally, but in capital decisions, respect should be given to those who have demonstrated an aptitude with finance.

Growth is necessarily balanced by death, and thus must be undertaken only with full understanding of the inevitable consequences

Debt is a form of slavery, and should only be undertaken if absolutely necessary, short-term, obtained locally, and paid off as quickly as possible. For example, when moving to the village, one may have to take out a loan against their current home until it can be sold.

Visioning Exercise #2, Group Values, Individual Values

The following is the result of visioning exercise #2, from Creating a Life Together, page 49. We wrote our values on sticky notes, put them on a wall, grouped them into related categories, then placed coloured dots next to the most important categories and the most important values.

The intention of the voting is to provide some reletave priority between values, not to exclude values with no votes.

Values with no or equal votes are listed alphabetically. Votes are broken down as (M) members and (A) advisors.